Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Allahabad High Court Drops Plea Alleging Rahul Gandhi Is British
A court heard a complaint saying Rahul Gandhi might not be an Indian citizen.
The people who filed the complaint said he was a British national.
They wanted the court to question his right to remain a member of Parliament for Raebareli.
The court said they did not bring concrete documents proving the claim.
They mentioned a UK company and a letter about someone named “Raul Vinci.”
The court said these materials did not establish the allegations.
The petitioners then asked to withdraw their case.
The court allowed the withdrawal and dismissed the petition, without reporting a finding that Gandhi is a British citizen.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court dismissed as withdrawn a petition challenging Rahul Gandhi’s Indian citizenship.
Petitioners Ashok Pande and Rajnish Kumar Singh alleged Gandhi was a British national and sought to remove him as Raebareli MP.
The court said the petitioners had not produced concrete documents supporting their allegations.
The petition cited claims involving UK-based Backops Limited and a letter concerning a person named “Raul Vinci.”
Similar citizenship allegations were raised in 2015 and 2019, while a separate Karnataka case makes similar claims.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi was the subject of a petition filed by Ashok Pande and Rajnish Kumar Singh.
- What
- The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court dismissed as withdrawn a petition challenging Gandhi’s citizenship and eligibility to remain an MP.
- When
- The order was passed on Monday and made available on Wednesday; the articles do not give calendar dates.
- Where
- The case was heard by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court and concerned Gandhi’s Raebareli seat.
- Why
- The petitioners alleged Gandhi was a British national, but the court was told they had not produced concrete evidence supporting the allegation.
Petitioners’ Allegations
Court’s Response
Citizenship status
Petitioners’ Allegations
The petitioners alleged that Rahul Gandhi was a British national rather than an Indian citizen.
Court’s Response
The court observed that the petitioners had not produced concrete documents substantiating the allegation.
Parliamentary eligibility
Petitioners’ Allegations
The petitioners sought a writ of quo warranto to challenge Gandhi’s right to continue as the MP from Raebareli.
Court’s Response
The petition was dismissed as withdrawn after the petitioners sought permission to withdraw it.
Supporting material
Petitioners’ Allegations
The petition referred to UK-based Backops Limited and an alleged Cambridge University letter concerning “Raul Vinci.”
Court’s Response
The court said the materials presented did not establish the allegations, and the petitioners did not provide company or British registry records.
- Court
- Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court
- Judges
- Justices Shekhar B Saraf and Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary
- Petitioners
- Ashok Pande and Rajnish Kumar Singh
- Requested remedy
- A writ of quo warranto challenging Rahul Gandhi’s right to continue as the Raebareli MP
- Evidence discussed
- The petitioners did not produce incorporation records for Backops Limited, British Registrar of Companies records, or a declaration by Gandhi claiming British citizenship.
- Other document
- The petition relied on an alleged Cambridge University letter concerning a person named “Raul Vinci,” which the court said did not establish the allegations.
- Earlier proceedings
- Similar issues were raised in 2015 and 2019; the court said grievances concerning alleged loss of citizenship had to be raised before the central government under Section 9(2) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
